Association of British Orchestras

ABO Classical Music Awards

ABO Classical Music Awards

As the representative body for the UK’s orchestras and the wider music ecology around them, each year the Association of British Orchestras (ABO) celebrates the dedication, inspiration and achievements of the people who work in our sector through the annual ABO Classical Music Awards, in partnership with Classical Music.

We want to celebrate the people who make the UK classical music sector brilliant – whatever their role, or team. This is your moment!

From 2024, the ABO Classical Music Awards will take a new form.

Previously, the ABO Classical Music Awards were offered to Orchestra Manager of the Year, Concert Hall Manager of the Year and Artist Manager of the Year.

Instead of being linked to specific management roles, we are now seeking nominations for individuals or groups of individuals from within the ABO membership whose work, particular project or initiative demonstrates inspiration, innovation or collaboration within any of the ABO’s priority areas: Equity, diversity and inclusion; Learning and development; Green orchestras; Health and wellbeing; and Innovation and digital.   

This year there will be three awards presented at the ABO Annual Conference, taking place in January 2024 in Bristol and, as previously, these will not reward on-stage performance.

Nominations are now open until 5pm on Friday 1 December 2023.

HOW TO NOMINATE

  • Please submit your nomination by completing the nomination form here and emailing to info@abo.org.uk with subject line ‘ABO Classical Music Awards – nomination’, by 5pm on Friday 1 December 2023.
  • Any individual of an ABO member organisation can nominate a colleague or group of colleagues within the ABO’s membership for an award. You can’t nominate yourself.
  • The nomination needs to show how the individual or group of individuals have demonstrated the values of inspiration, innovation and collaboration and contributed to the ABO’s Priority Areas in the calendar year of 2023.

The priority areas are:

  • Equity, diversity and inclusion;
  • Learning and development;
  • Green orchestras;
  • Health and wellbeing; and
  • Innovation and digital.   
  • Nominations cannot be submitted anonymously to ensure that the process remains accountable and transparent. However the nominee(s) will not be told who made the nomination.
  • Nominations will be reviewed by a representative judging panel in December 2023 which reflects sector expertise across the wider ABO membership. The panel will revolve each year.
  • Shortlisted nominees will be informed and announced at the ABO’s annual conference in January 2024.

To see award winners from previous years please click here.

Fill out the nomination form below:

ABO Classical Music Awards 2024 Nomination Form

Annual Conference

The next ABO conference will take place in Gateshead,
hosted by The Glasshouse ICM, from 5-7 February 2025.